Fast Track to Innovation

The Fast Track to Innovation, the Horizon 2020 Work Programme n. 18, will be activated from January 2015. This new pilot action will be characterized by a purely bottom up approach, with the possibility, therefore, to submit proposals in all areas of LEITs – II Pillar and Societal Challenges – III Pillar of Horizon 2020.

FTI is an action promoting "close to market" and innovation activities (starting from TRL 6), with the obligation to be on the market in three years from the start date of FTI pilot action. For this reason, the participation of industry in the partnerships it’s strictly required.

Eligibility criteria

Proposals must be submitted by a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5 legal entities established in three different European countries or associated countries to Horizon 2020. The involvement of Industries is mandatory, providing at least one of the following conditions:

at least 60% of the budget of the proposal is to be allocated to private for profit entities;

the minimum number of participants belonging to industry’s world must be 2 for consortia of 3 or 4 participants and 3 for consortia of 5 participants.

Actors paying an important role in the marketing process can participate, such as cluster organizations, end users, industry associations, incubators, investors or public sector.

In particular is recommended the participation of SMEs andFirst timeindustry applicant (private for profit entities that have a PIC for the first time or who have listed in the Register of Beneficiary Participant Portal to submitted for FTI).

The amount of European funds, as in all the "Innovation Actions" of H2020, is70%of eligible costs(100% for non-profit).

The maximum Eu funding per project is €3 million.

FTI pilot action will be implemented through open call with several cut-off across the year. This allows to submit proposals at any time.

Budget: €100 million in 2015. The available budget will be divided equally for each deadline.

Deadlines/cut off 2015:

29/04/2015

01/09/2015

01/12/2015

Budget:€100 million in 2015. The available budget will be divided equally for each deadline.